George Baron, known for his work in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, makes his feature film directorial debut with the chilling The Blue Rose. Available in theaters and on VOD since July 12, the horror film delves into an alternate reality where two rookie detectives confront their worst nightmares. Inspired by an immersive theater show Baron directed in 2020, The Blue Rose is a “pastel-noir” piece that explores themes of gender fluidity and repressed fears in a 1950s setting. Following its world premiere at the FrightFest Film Festival, the film will also be showcased at the Fright Nights Film Festival and the FogFest Film Festival.
What inspired you to create The Blue Rose, and how did your experience with immersive theater influence your approach as a director?
I was inspired by art. Specifically surrealist art like Mark Ryden, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Man Ray, etc. I’m also very inspired by films from the 1950s.
How was the transition from actor to director in your first feature film? What were the biggest challenges you faced?
At the time I don’t think I had any challenges or realize that I was facing challenges on production. I was very blissfully ignorant. I had no idea what I was doing and that made it easier somehow.
You mentioned that The Blue Rose is a pastel-noir film inspired by Hollywood’s golden age. How did you balance the nostalgia for that period with the need to explore modern themes like gender fluidity?
Gender fluidity has always existed – people have been struggling with gender identity forever, it’s not a modern concept, it’s only significantly more visible nowadays. I feel like I’m paying homage to the people who maybe weren’t allowed to fully be themselves in the time that the movie takes place. I think the glam of Old Hollywood is kind of beloved by the queer community and then sprinkling in modern authentic representation makes for a good movie.
The film is set in an alternate version of the 1950s. How does this choice of era help deepen the themes of repressed fear and desire that you wanted to explore?
I don’t think it necessarily does…or if it does, it just happens naturally. Deepening queer themes or elevating stereotypical themes of repressed fears is not as interesting to me as creating campy characters and fierce shots. That’s the queer representation of this movie, that it’s campy and gay. Naturally.
You’ve worked with a variety of artists and collaborations throughout your career. How did working with Sophia Victoria Frizzell influence the creation of The Blue Rose?
Sophia created the blue rose. The painting she did of a blue rose with a woman’s face growing out of it was the entire seed of inspiration for the movie. She’s very talented and definitely an artist to look out for.
What was your experience participating in film festivals like FrightFest and FogFest? What do you hope the audience will take away from the film after these screenings?
I love the genre fests and FrightFest and FogFest are two of my favorites. I always recommend FogFest to anyone I can. I think it’s an amazing fest for the filmmakers and the audience, it’s really incredible. I just want people to leave the screening feeling like they have had a unique one-of-a-kind experience. This film is something you have to go into blind and just let it wash over you. Radical acceptance is needed to enjoy this movie.
Beyond your work in film and theater, you are heavily involved in advocating for queer youth and supporting underprivileged filmmakers. How do these passions influence your artistic work?
I think everything I touch is going to have a stroke of queerness to it. Almost all of my collaborators, friends, etc, are all queer. I’m very fortunate to be a young queer director and I know that’s something not a lot of people can do, so if one day I’m able to give back to the younger generation one day, then that would be a dream come true.
Do you have any upcoming projects you can share, especially if there is any continuation of the themes explored in The Blue Rose?
I have a part in a new indie film coming out called ‘Hey I Made This For You’ and I am working on a multimedia art project called TABITHA that you can find on my Instagram @sp00kyge0rge.
Follow George Baron on Instagram